Post socket latch



Nov. 21, 1944.

G. w. PANCOE 2,363,436

POST SOCKET LATCH" Filed Oct, 16, 1943 mmuui i5 3 I I /7 11m FIG-.3 F[G 4 INVENTOR George W Pancoe,

A TTORNE Y 4 Patented Nov. 21, 1944 2,363,436 POST socxnr LATCH George W. Pancoe, Philadelphia, Pa., assignor to Edward G. Budd Manufacturing Company,

Philadelphia, Pa., a corporation of Pennsylvania Application October 16, 1943, Serial No. 506,486

Claims.

This invention relates to arod or post socket latch, particularly to a floor socket latch for engaging a notched post and means for releasing the post, and has for an object the provision of improvements in this art.

One of the particular objects of the invention is to provide a floor post latch of ver simple and rugged construction which will securely engage the end of a post when thrust therein and hold it against removal until purposely released.

Another object is to provide such a latch which will not readily be obstructed by refuse falling therein when a post is not in the socket.

Another object is to provide means for quickly and easily releasing the post when it is desired to remove it.

Another object is to provide releasing means on the post where it will be accessible to an operator seated thereabove and where it will be removed clear of the floor with the posts.

The above and other objects of the invention will be apparent by reference to the accompanying drawing of an exemplary embodiment thereof, reference being made to the accompanying drawing, wherein:

Fig. l is a vertical section and elevation of the device with a post engaged;

' Fig. 2 is a similar view at right angles to Fig. 1; Fig, 3 is a section on the line 3-3 of Fig. 1; Fig. 4 is a section on the line 44 of Fig. 1;

and

Fig. 5 is a view like Fig. 1 but showing the post separated from the socket.

The device may be used for a navigators seat on a plane. The seat itself is notimportant here,

it being only necessary to note that the front posts of the seat are adapted to be pushed down and caught in a, floor socket or at will pulled out and folded up or removed with the seat. The device may also be used for many other purposes.

Here a post in has a tapered end Illa adapted to enter a socket or opening l2 in the floor [3. A flanged foot lllb is secured on the post which is adapted to rest on the floor to limit the lowered position of. the post and take the weight imposed upon it.

At a distance below the foot Illb, preferably at a distance corresponding to the thickness of the floor l3, the post is provided with side recesses or notches Illc adapted to be engaged by the arms [6a of a spring it which is secured beneath the floor, as by a stud I! entering a, loop |6b of the spring.

Upon the post there is slidabl mounted a release pln 20 having a side and front tapered end 20a adapted to enter between the extended spaced front projections IBc of the spring arms and push them apart when the pin.is pressed down. A handle 20b is provided on the upper end of the pin 20 by which it may be pressed down.

The pin 20 is formed of pressed sheet metal. It has side flanges 20c which fit closely against the post and a central raised ridge 20d which merges into the tapered end 20a and the handle 20b. The ridge is provided with a longitudinal slot Me to receive one or more retaining studs 2| fast in the post. The lateral flange of the foot Hlb is cut away to permit the pin 20 to pass. The opening in the floor is also enlarged on one side to allow the pin to enter.

The projections lie of the spring are retained against undue outward spread and are prevented from being pushed down when the post enters by a transversely slotted keeper 22 located beneath the floor.

In operation, the post is pushed down to cause its tapered end -l0a to enter between the spring arms [6a which presently engage the notches lllc of the post and hold it down. When it is desired to release the post the pin 20 is depressed by pushing down on the handle or ear 20b, which causes the tapered end of the pin to spread the spring arms I apart out of the post notches. The post may now be pulled up out of the socket.

It is thus seen that the invention provides a very simple, inexpensive, and easily operated construction for holding a post or rod and quickly releasing it.

While one embodiment has been described for purposes of illustration, it is to be understood that the invention may have various embodiments within the limits of the prior art and the scope of the subl'oined claims.

What is claimed is:

1. A post latch construction comprising in combination, an anchorage provided with an opening, a post adapted to be secured in said opening, said post having a tapered end, a retainer notch adjacent the tapered end, and a lateral foot adapted to rest against the outer surface of the anchorage, a spring secured adjacent said opening and on the side thereof in position to engage the post notch, and an endtapered push member slidably secured on the side of said post for releasing said spring to permit the post to be pulled out of said opening.

2. A post latch construction comprising in combination, an anchorage provided with a socket, a post adapted to be securedin said socket, said post having a tapered end, a retainer notch adjacent the tapered end, and a lateral foot adapted to rest against an outer surface 0! the anchorage, a resilient retainer secured to the anchorage adjacent said socket in position to be engaged by the tapered end of the post and to engage the notch, and an end-tapered push pin slidably mounted on the side' 01' the post for releasing said retainer from the notch.

3. A post latch construction comprising in combination, an anchorage provided with a socket, a post adapted to be secured in said socket, said post having a tapered end, retainer notches adjacent the tapered end, and a lateral foot adapted to rest against an outer surface of the anchorage, a retainer having resilient spaced-apart arms secured to the anchorage adjacent said socket in position to be engaged by the tapered end of the post and to engage the notches, and a push pin slidably mounted on the post for releasing said retainer from the notches, said pin having a tapered end adapted to be pushed between the retainer arms and longitudinal flanges on the side fitting against said post, and araised portion in the center forming the tapered retainer operator.

4. A post latch construction comprising in combination, an anchorage provided with a socket, a post having a tapered end entering said socket, releasable retaining means between said post and anchorage, and means carried by said post for releasing said retaining means. said releasing means comprising a sheet metal member slidably fitting said post on the sides and having a raised intermediate portion tapered to form a release operator at one end, a handle at the other end, and having a pin and slot retaining connection with the post intermediate its ends.

5. A post latch construction comprising in combination, a floor having a post socket therein, a retainer springsecured beneath the floor at one side of the socket, said spring having retainer arms on the sides of the socket and extensions of the arms on the other side of 'the socket from the side at whlch'the spring is secured beneath the floor, a post having a tapered end adapted to enter said socket and spread the spring arms, a notch in each side of the post adapted to be engaged by the spring arms, a flange on the post above the notches adapted to rest on the upper surface of the floor, and a release pin slidably mounted on said post having a tapered end adapted to be pushed down between the spring arm extension to release the post.

GEORGE W. PANCOE. 

